How to Paint Your Nails like a Pro

You can get polished nails that look like a pro did them.

Every now and again it's so nice to pamper yourself, but you can paint your nails yourself and still have the look that a professional painted them. What follows are some basic steps to get good-looking nails.

Things You'll Need

• Quality nail polish
• Moisturizer
• Nail polish remover
• Cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover
• Base coat polish
• Top coat polish (optional)

Instructions

1. First, remove any existing nail polish completely so your nails are clean and dry; don't throw away the cotton pad/ball with the polish remover on it just yet.

2. Moisturize your hands. This prevents stray nail polish from adhering to your skin. Unfortunately, it also can prevent the polish from adhering to your nail, so once you've moisturized, swipe the nail polish remover over the nails again to remove excess oil.

3. Next, apply the base coat. Go with the cheapest stuff for this, and a thin layer is fine; it just protects your nails against color bleeding . For example, orange nails after hot pink polish is not sexy.

4. Apply a thin layer of nail polish over the base coat. Placing the brush about half-way down your nail, push downward -- which fans the bristles out -- until you almost touch your nail bed. Then reverse and sweep upward. Apply to each nail.

5. Next, apply a second coat to the nails. Start by sweeping the brush horizontally across the top of your nails--this essentially creates a blunt edge of polish and helps prevent chipping.

6. After the horizontal sweep, repeat Step 4 to each nail, paying attention to creating a smooth, even surface. Don't apply more than two coats; it takes much longer to dry and often bubbles.

7. Once your nails look perfect, wait for a few minutes and then go over your hands with the polish remover-soaked cotton swab, removing any excess smudges or paint.

8. Using either your base coat or a separate clear top coat, apply a very thin layer to the top of your nails.

Tips & Warnings

• I recommend strongly paying the extra few dollars for a better quality polish, like OPI--it resists bubbling and spreads smoothly without streaks. It will look professional every time!

• Always allow your nails enough time to dry completely!

• Be careful not to overpaint. If you make a mistake, take the polish off and start again. Otherwise it can get lumpy.

References

• Woman Junction: How to Apply Nail Polish